Pinellas County Schools Earns ‘A’ Grade For First Time: District

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — For the first time in its history, Pinellas County Schools, which was formed in 1912, earned an “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education for the 2023-24 school year, the district said in a news release.

In another first, every Pinellas County public school earned an “A,” “B” or “C” grade.

The FDOE, which has produced school grades since 1998-99 and district grades since 2003-04, used an updated school grading system to determine school grades for the last school year.

In 2024, nearly 1,300 schools statewide earned an “A” grade, a 6-percentage point increase over 2023, FDOE said in a news release. Additionally, the number of schools earning a “D” or “F” grade decreased, with 81 fewer schools earning a “D” and 17 fewer schools earning an “F.”

“I am incredibly proud as this designation is the result of the dedication and commitment of our Board and every PCS employee,” Kevin Hendrick, Pinellas County superintendent, said. “The work of every one of our schools is evident, and the excellence of our amazing students continues to elevate because of the work in our classrooms, schools, and district offices. This is a historically great day for our community.”

School board chair, Laura Hine, added, “This is exceptional news for the families of Pinellas County and is the result of leadership having sustained laser focus on the work at hand — 100 (percent) student success.”

The District’s Strategic Plan for 2023-26 set an objective of obtaining a district grade of an “A,” which was earned in the first year.